isoning and other
crimes; and being condemned (some rightly, some wrongfully), are
executed.--III. In the West many instances occur of the ferocity
and insane cruelty of the emperor Valentinian.--IV. Valentinian
crosses the Rhine on a bridge of boats, but, through the fault of a
soldier, fails in an attempt to surprise Macrianus, the king of the
Allemanni.--V. Theodosius, the commander of the cavalry in Gaul, in
several battles defeats Formus Maorus, the son of Nubelis Regulus,
who had revolted from Valentinian; and, after having driven him to
kill himself, restores peace to Africa.--VI. The Quadi, being
provoked by the wicked murder of their king Galerius, in
conjunction with the Sarmatians, lay waste both the Pannonias and
Valeria with fire and sword, and destroy almost the whole of two
legions--A dissertation on the city prefecture of Claudius.

I.

A.D. 371.

Sec. 1. At the conclusion of the winter, Sapor, king of Persia, being full
of cruelty and arrogance from the confidence engendered by his former
battles, having completed his army to its full number, and greatly
strengthened it, sent out a force of cuirassiers, archers, and mercenary
troops, to make an invasion of our territories.

2. Against this force, Count Trajan and Vadomarius, the ex-king of the
Allemanni, advanced with a mighty army, having been enjoined by the
emperor to remember his orders to act on the defensive rather than on
the offensive against the Persians.

3. When they arrived at Vagabanta, a place well suited for the
manoeuvres of the legions, they supported against their will a rapid
charge which was made upon them by the squadrons of the enemy, and
retreated with the design not to be the first to slay any of the hostile
soldiers, and not to be looked upon as guilty of having broken the
treaty. At last, under the pressure of extreme necessity, they came to
an engagement with the barbarians, and after having slain a great number
of them, were victorious.

4. During the cessation of regular operations which ensued, several
slight skirmishes occurred through the impatience of both armies, which
ended with different results; and at last the summer ended, and a truce
was agreed to by common consent, and the two armies separated, though
the generals were violently inflamed against each other. The king of
Parthia, intending to pass the winter at Ctesiphon, returned to his own